Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly made history at the National Television Awards on Tuesday as they won the Best Presenter Award for the nineteenth year in a row.
This Morning was also a big winner of the night, with Holly Willoughby, 38, and Phillip Schofield, 57, rejoicing with glee as they kept their decade long reign as Best Daytime Show.
The This Morning win, however, came with a tinge of behind-the-scenes scandal, as presenters Holly and Phil accepted the gong next to Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes, who are said to be in the midst of a major feud with Phil.
Best in the business: Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly made history at the National Television Awards on Tuesday as they won Best Presenter Award for the 19th year in a row
Fellow nominees Bradley Walsh, Graham Norton, Holly and Phillip jokingly rolled their eyes as iconic TV duo Ant and Dec, both 44, took to the stage at the O2 Arena to receive their Best Presenter accolade.
Drag Race UK’s Michelle Visage presented the award to Ant and Dec, who told the audience they were ‘grateful and humble’ to continue their reign as Best Presenter.
Ant said: ‘On our way in we had the chat, like we normally do, about this year being the year we don’t win it and we were like “look it’s been a great run and we’re very lucky to do what we do” and then you go and do this again. Thank you.’
Triumphant: This Morning was also a big winner of the night, with Holly Willoughby, 38, and Phillip Schofield, 57, rejoicing with glee as they kept their decade long reign as Best Daytime Show
Over the moon: Drag Race UK’s Michelle Visage presented the award to Ant and Dec, who told the audience they were ‘grateful and humble’ to continue their reign as Best Presenter
Thrilled: Ant said: ‘On our way in we had the chat, like we normally do, about this year being the year we don’t win it and we were like “look it’s been a great run and we’re very lucky to do what we do” and then you go and do this again. Thank you.’
It’s an outrage! Fellow nominees Holly and Phillip jokingly rolled their eyes after Ant and Dec were announced as the winners
Dec added: ‘It never gets easier sat there. If anything you feel more and more sick every year.
‘Thank you to so many people – to our management, to all of the support we continually get from ITV, to everybody who works on all of our shows who make us look good, but most of all everybody who took the time to vote.’
Thrilled: Dec said: ‘Thank you to so many people – to our management, to all of the support we continually get from ITV’
Triumphant return: Ant made his TV comeback last January after taking a break from presenting for most of 2018 following his drink-drive arrest in March
I’m A Celeb: As well as scooping the prize for Best Presenters, Ant and Dec were also presented the Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award for I’m A Celebrity
Ant made his TV comeback last January after taking a break from presenting for most of 2018 following his drink-drive arrest in March.
The Geordie star was convicted of drink-driving, given an £86,000 fine and a 20 month driving ban following a three-car smash in March and later checked into rehab.
In August 2018, Ant revealed he was taking a break from presenting with co-host Dec to focus on recovering from his painkiller addiction, months after his drink-driving charge in April.
The presenter previously credited Anne-Marie as being ‘his rock’ as he battled with drug and alcohol addiction and took time away from the spotlight.
Grateful: Another big winner on the night was Jesy Nelson, who broke down in tears when she scooped a trophy in the Factual category for her documentary Odd One Out
Teary-eyed: The Little Mix star admitted she was ‘overwhelmed’ as she accepted the top prize for her heart-wrenching film, which focused on the bullying and trolling she endured since rising to fame
Her story: Of her award, Jesy said: ‘I’m so grateful that such a negative experience in my life turned into such a positive one’
As well as scooping the prize for Best Presenters, Ant and Dec were also presented the Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award for I’m A Celebrity – which they dedicated to those who have battled the bush fires in Australia.
They were joined on stage by the jungle class of 2019, with reigning Queen Of The Jungle Jacqueline Jossa dubbing the duo ‘the nicest guys in television’.
Another big winner on the night was Jesy Nelson, who broke down in tears when she scooped a trophy in the Factual category for her documentary Odd One Out.
The Little Mix star admitted she was ‘overwhelmed’ as she accepted the top prize for her heart-wrenching film, which focused on the bullying and trolling she endured since rising to fame.
Keep dancing! Hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman hugged as they graciously took to the stage with the Strictly cast after winning Best Talent Show
Keep dancing! Hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman hugged as they graciously took to the stage with the Strictly cast after winning Best Talent Show
And as her proud boyfriend Chris Hughes looked on from the front row of the star-studded audience, Jesy, 28, wept while thanking him for boosting her confidence. The singer said: ‘I’m so sorry, this is so overwhelming. I’m such a baby! Thank you so much.’
After thanking the producer and director and her mother, she turned her attention to Chris, as she gushed: ‘I want to thank Chris, my boyfriend for bringing me up every day and making me feel confident.’
She continued: ‘I want to thank every person that voted. You have no idea what this means to me, to us. I don’t think we expected this reaction when we made it…
‘I’m so grateful that such a negative experience in my life turned into such a positive one.’
Peaky Blinders scooped the Best Drama award – and Best Dramatic Performance award for star Cillian Murphy – while Mrs Brown’s Boys took the gong for Comedy.
Coronation Street star Katie McGlynn took home the Serial Drama gong, delivering a stirring speech, dedicating it to her late grandfather.
The Impact Award was bestowed upon sitcom Gavin & Stacey, which returned this Christmas for a one-off special, attracting 18million viewers.
The award was presented by Olly Murs, with actress and writer Ruth Jones quipping ‘What’s a-murrin’?’ – a nod to her character Nessa’s catchphrase.
Baking the goods: The Great British Bake Off won Best Challenge show and Paul Hollywood noted that it meant a lot being the show’s 10th year
She gushed about James Corden, her co-scribe of the sitcom, who ‘wished he could be there’ but was in Los Angeles, where he hosts The Late Late Show.
Host David Walliams welcomed Caitlyn Jenner to the stage to present the award for Best Challenge Show.
‘At least I’m not in the jungle and don’t have to eat a cow’s eyeball!’ exclaimed Caitlyn, referring to her stint on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! last year.
She eventually awarded the gong to The Great British Bake Off, accepted by Paul Hollywood, who noted that it meant a lot being the show’s 10th year.
There were further jokes about Ant & Dec, who took the mic from the comedian at one point, insisting they were actually the hosts of the evening.
‘You can’t host EVERYTHING on ITV!’ David insisted, pleading: ‘Let me have tonight!’
Sky won its first NTA for its critically acclaimed Sky original, Chernobyl in the Best New Drama category.
The prestigious award was collected by Adi Roche, founder of Chernobyl Children International and Chris Fry, Executive Producer, Sister Pictures, who accepted it from Friends star David Schwimmer, after he enjoyed a snide back-and-forth with Walliams over which of them was the ‘funniest David on TV’.
Walliams beat Simon Cowell, Will.I.Am, Ru Paul and Sir Tom Jones for the Best TV judge.
Davina McCall presented this award, while David sat on Ant & Dec’s laps in the audience, in his pants, waiting to hear who the winner was.
Sir Michael Palin was awarded the Special Recognition Award, which he accepted with tales of the late Terry Jones who was one of Michael’s Monty Python comedy team and who sadly died last week.
‘Terry wanted to say things how they’d never been done before, and do things that had never been done before!’ Michael said, as he dedicated his award to his ‘dear friend of 60 years’.